KALAI MATHEE, MSc, PhD

Founding Chair & Associate Professor

Department of Molecular Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, USA

www.fiu.edu/~matheek

Service Philosophy

Even though service can be very time-consuming, it is a critical component that determines whether you can or will give back to the community. Service is a “two-way exchange” - giving is a way of expressing gratitude for what you have received so far, small or large. Expecting future returns may set you in a path for disappointments and disillusionments.

I truly believe that every member of the FIU community has to have the university vision and mission as their only true mission whether one is building a new college or new department or strengthening an established one. Common causes can bring the most disagreeable parties together. When the Department of Biological Sciences in 1999 gave me the unique opportunity to join the FIU family, I felt that I had to give my time and energy to make this a better place. I have served in many departmental, colleges and university-wide committees.

College of Medicine: In Fall 2006, I was asked by Provost Berkman to serve on the search committee for the Founding Dean for the College of Medicine (COM). It was a great experience and I felt that I was truly helping to lay the cornerstone of this new enterprise. This is a high honor to be part of building the foundation. I joined COM in Fall 2007. I shared the office next door to Dean Simpson and worked on a multitude of projects, many of which had direct or indirect impact on the provisional accreditation of FIU COM. Some of my major contributions were:

(i) Contributed to the final version of COM Faculty Handbook.

(ii) Recruitment: I served on the search committee and was personally involved in hosting every individual COM interviewed (~35 interviewees with ~14 seminars). This effort resulted in hiring

a. Research faculty members: Barry Rosen (Assoc Dean for Research), Rita Mukhopadhyay (Assoc Prof), Alexander Agoulnik (Prof), Irina Agoulnik (Assoc Prof), and Helen Tempest (Asst Prof).

b. Recruitment of teaching faculty members: Participated in the recruitment of CH Rao, Jenny Fortun, Nafis Rahman, Iveris Martinez, Juan Acuna, Dieter Lorkhe, Ken Rosenthal

c. Recruitment of Chairs: David Brown, Robert Poppiti, Manuel Panelvar, Jeffery Horstmeyer, Georg Petroianu,

d. Recruitment of Staff: David Boilard, Luda Dolinsky, Bohyun Kim, Maria Melssen and Esther Lopez

(iii) Development of Period I & II curriculum for the inaugural class.

(iv) Development of COM Website: I was an active participant and provided the necessary framework to all the other chairs.

(v) Admission Committee: I was involved in selecting the inaugural class of the medical students. This was perhaps the most time-consuming process. I am serving a second term on this committee.

Curriculum Committees: I was involved in the development of the PhD proposal for the joint degree between the Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry-Biochemistry.

I have developed the course content for the “Microbes, Infection and Immunology” class (BMS6300) designed for the first year medical students. In order to provide the best, I traveled to Case Western Reserve University to better understand the case-based curriculum. I have personally helped recruit the most impressive group of individuals to teach the class (http://medicine.fiu.edu/molecular_microbiology.php) and two of them (Rosenthal and Pfaller) authored the Medical Microbiology text book that has been adopted for this class.

Seminar series: While in the Department of Biological Sciences I served on the committee to run the Glaser Seminar Series since 2001. In 2004/2005 as the Committee Chair, I successfully hosted Professor Stephen Palumbi from Stanford University (http://palumbi.stanford.edu/PeoplePages/Steve.html).

I played a major role in The Presidential Lecture Series (PLS) initiated by President Maidique in 2002 (http://www.fiu.edu/pls). Between Fall 2003 – Summer 2005, I served as the Associate Director of this series. This job was both demanding and time consuming. The PLS had two subsections: (i) The Nobel Laureate Series, and (2) The Distinguished Speaker Series. Both subsections required coordinating with different committee members as well as the completion of a great deal of paperwork. More importantly, I spent time ensuring that the visiting scientists had the best experience possible at FIU. In the 2004/2005 season, I hosted five speakers with no help from any administrative assistant.

I organized a one-day symposium (Spring 2009) to bring together scientists interested in bionanosensing from Biological Sciences, Chemistry-Biochemistry, Computer Science, Material Science, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and COM.

I now host the COM Distinguished Seminar Series that started January 2008. I have hosted nine speakers to date. In addition, we have initiated the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Seminar Series. The first speaker was hosted on October 9^th, 2009. I hope to raise funds to name the series.

Access and Equity Committee: In Fall 2001, FIU President Maidique appointed me to this committee for a two-year term. I serve on this committee continuously (except when I went on sabbatical). I have actively participated in issues related to minorities and served as ad hoc selection committee member for Minority Community College Transfer Scholarships.

Professional Service: Upon joining the Department of Biological Sciences in 1999, one of my goals was to contribute to increasing the visibility of FIU, at least with my research colleagues from other universities. Much time and effort has gone into furthering this end. Not only have I published numerous papers, but I have also participated at a number of national and international conferences (along with my mentees) and have personally invited many established, nationally and internationally renowned scientists (Lory from Harvard, Silver from Merck, Gonzalez from Columbia, Grab from Johns Hopkins, to name a few) to FIU. I also invite these scientists to serve on my graduate student committees. These invited scientists (hopefully) will then serve as our goodwill ambassadors.

I have reviewed articles for various journals including Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences and Molecular Microbiology, to name a couple. Since July 2009 I serve as the Associate Editor for the Journal of Medical Microbiology and BMC Microbiology.

I also serve as a grant reviewer for US and Swiss National Science Foundations, United Kingdom Medical Research Council and Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In addition, I also serve on international conference committees, dissertation committees.

Voluntary Service: I volunteered to teach Bacteriology and Molecular Biology to second year medical students in Liberia, a country that was just emerging from 14 years of a debilitating civil war. I continue to work with those students, and hope to develop sustainable health programs to help the population. I also had the honor of meeting the first democratically elected female president of Liberia, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. I was able to bring the plight of the medical students to her attention. The outcomes of this meeting and my visit are clearly articulated by the students and Liberians (see Service).

Finally with the help of my Mathee Dream Crew, I established a one-of-a-kind endowment fund called The Robert James Smiddy (RJS) Memorial Endowment Fund that provides Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award to honor my student who passed away in September 2004. The award is conferred once a year to an undergraduate student conducting research in conjunction with the Biology Honors Program and who complies with all the requirements established by the RJS Memorial Award Committee. We hand the award at the CAS Faculty Award Ceremony. We are in the process of setting up a second award to be given to Medical Students for excellence in research.

SERVICE DETAILS

	Professional Service
	Editorial Boards
	No			Date		Editorial Board (No of articles reviewed)
	1			2009		Associate Editor, Journal of Medical Microbiology (12) Associate Editor, BMC Microbiology (5)
	Journal Reviews
	No			Date		Reviewing Duties: Journal (No of articles reviewed)
	9			2009		Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy (1) Acta Patholologica, Microbiologica et Immunologica Scandinavica (1) Current Microbiology (1)
	8			2008		Molecular Microbiology (3) Journal of Medical Microbiology (2) Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica (1) Microbiological Research (1)
	7			2007		Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA (1) Journal of Microbiology (1) Molecular Microbiology (1) Review an article for a book
	6			2006		Molecular Microbiology (1) Journal of Herbs, Spies and Medicinal Plants (1)
	5			2003		FEMS Microbiological Letters (1) and Journal of Medical Microbiology (1)
	4			2002		Gene (1) and Journal of Medical Microbiology (1)
	3			2001		Corel Reef Proceedings (1) and Journal of Medical Microbiology (1)
	2			2000		Acta Patholologica, Microbiologica et Immunologica Scandinavica (1) and Microbiology (1)
	1			1998		Microbiology (1)
	Grant Reviews
	No			Date		Agencies
	5			2009		Swiss National Science Foundation US National Science Foundation
	4			2009		Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
	3			2008		Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
	2			2007		Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
	1			Fall 2003		South Dakota Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), South Dakota State University
	Conference Committees
	No			Date		Conference Information
	4			2006-8		Scientific Organizing Committee Member, 10^th Asian Conference on Transcription (ACT-IX), Bangalore, Jan 13^th – 16^th 2008.
	3			2004-5		Scientific Organizing Committee Member, 9^th Asian-Pacific Conference on Transcription (ACT-VIII), Taipei, Taiwan Dec 12^th – 15^th 2005.
	2			2003-4		Scientific Organizing Committee Member, 8^th Asian Conference on Transcription (ACT-VIII), Bangkok, Thailand. Nov. 16^th – 19^th 2004.
	1			2001-2		Scientific Organizing Committee, Chair, 7^th Asian Conference on Transcription. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. July 23^rd – 27^th, 2002 www.fiu.edu/~act_vii.
	International External Examiner
	No			Date		Students/Institutes
	3			2006		Ph. D. Candidate, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, Tamilnadu, India. Was examined in Aug 2006
	2			2002		M. Sc. Candidate, Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Univ. of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. Formally appointed in June 2001. Was examined in April 2002
	1			2001		Ph. D. Candidate, Institute of Biological Sciences (Genetics), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Was examined in July 2001.
	Others
	No			Date		International and National Activities
	7			July 2007		Volunteer Faculty teaching at the A.M. Dogglioti Medical School, Liberia
	6			Dec 2004		Science Fair Judge, Saint John Neumann Preparatory School Science Fair on 12/1/2004.
	5			May 2004		Career Mentor for student members. One-hour session organized by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) at the 104^th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA. May 26^th.
	4			Sept 2001		Cyber Interview. Participated in a Cyber Interview conducted by The Institute of Research Management and Consultancy, University Malaya, Malaysia.
	3			June 2001		Media interview with the Danish journalists about our Ginseng work during my summer trip to Denmark. Reference to our work appeared in several Danish News: Jun 28 (3), June 30, July 1, July 17 and July 30.
	2			Oct 2000		Workshop in Malaysia. Bacteria Cell-to-Cell Communication” under the program of The Dr. Ranjit Bhagwan Singh Medical Research Fund on 17-20^th October 2000, at University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
	1			May 2000		“President Elect Task Force Meeting” I was one of the ~40 members selected by Prof. Martha Howe, the 101^st ASM President, to attend the task force meeting at the 100^th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in May 2000
	University Service
	College of Medicine (COM)
	Year				No		Committees
	2008-2009				1		Search and Screen Committee
					2		Curriculum Committee: Continued developing the Year 1 and Year 2 curriculum.
					3		Admission Committee: Member of admission committee charged with identifying the inaugural class
					4		Organizer, COM Distinguished Seminar Series
					5		United Way Ambassador
					6		Library Search Subcommittee
					7		Web development, College of Medicine
	2007-2008				1		Search and Screen Committee: Participated in the selection and hosting the candidates
					2		Curriculum Committee: As the Course Director of Microbes Infection & Immunology have been working on the curriculum and identifying all the teachers. Also participated in nearly every workshop and meeting organized.
					3		Library Search Subcommittee, College of Medicine
					4		Seminar Host: Hosted 4 speakers (Lory, Harvard; Gonzales, Columbia; Silver, ex-Merck Scientist; and Grab, Johns Hopkins). Involved scheduling their travel, arranging their itinerary and ensuring a smooth visit.
	Department of Biological Sciences (25 % Appointment from 2007-2008)
	Year				No		Committees
	2005-2006				1		Glaser Committee
					2		Award Committee
					3		Graduate committee · Robin McCallum (Major Professor: John Makemson) – defended his thesis in Summer 2005
	2004-2005				1		Glaser Committee
					2		Ph. D. in Forensic Biology Tract Committee
					3		Graduate Committees: · Davecia Ragoonath (Major Professor: Laurie Richardson) – defended her thesis in Spring 2005 · Robin McCallum (Major Professor: John Makemson) · Sonia Rodriguez (Major Professor: Lidia Kos)
2003-2004					1		Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) Search and Screen Committee
					2		Marine Biopharmacology Search and Screen Committee Chair
					3		Glaser Committee
					4		Participated in designing Microbiology Curriculum
					5		Graduate Committees: · Davecia Ragoonath (Major Professor: Laurie Richardson) - Qualifying Exam and Thesis Proposal Seminar on 1/12/04 · Robin McCallum (Major Professor: John Makemson) · Yin Je (Major Professor: Frank Joachim) - 1^st Committee Meeting 3/5/04 · Sonia Rodriguez (Major Professor: Lidia Kos)
2002-2003					1		Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) Search and Screen Committee
					2		Glaser Committee
					3		Health and Life Sciences Phase II
					5		Graduate committees: · Erika Reatagui (Major Professor: Rene Herrera) · Davecia Ragoonath (Major Professor: Laurie Richardson) · Michael Walker (Major Professor: Laurie Richardson) · Robin McCallum (Major Professor: John Makemson) – Committee Meeting · Sonia Rodriguez (Major Professor: Lidia Kos)
2001-2002					1		Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) Search and Screen Committee
					2		Curriculum Committee – Chair
					3		Member of Department Budget Committee
					4		Member of Glaser Committee
					5		Member of Graduate Admission Committee
					6		Graduate Committees: · Robin McCallum (Major Professor: John Makemson) · Sonia Rodriguez (Major professor: Lidia Kos) · Michael Walker (Major Professor: Laurie Richardson)
2000-2001					1		Member of Search Committee to hire a Molecular/Cellular Biologist.
					2		Member of Structure/Direction of the Department of Biological Sciences’ Committee
					3		Member of Biology Symposium Award Team
					4		Member of Curriculum Committee
					5		Member of Budget Committee
					6		Member of The Glaser Committee
					7		Established the Biological Sciences Distinguished Seminar Speaker Series: Departmental Distinguished Seminar Series. Raised fund and sponsors worth nearly $8,000 in Fall 2000 to run the seminar series. Continued to host many Distinguished speakers in Spring 2001.
					8		Graduate committees: · Robin McCallum (Major Professor: John Makemson) · Sonia Rodriguez (Major professor: Lidia Kos) · Michael Walker (Major Professor: Laurie Richardson)
1999-2000					1		Member of Structure/Direction of the Department of Biological Sciences’ Committee
					2		Search Committee to hire a Molecular/Cellular Biologist
					3		Member of Molecular and Cellular Biology Curriculum Committee
	College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Service – Left CAS in July 2008
	Year				No		Committees
	2007-2008				1		Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences Committee
					2		Graduate Committees: · Behmoush Memari (Major Professor: Ken Furton, Chemistry & Biochemistry) · Shweta Mandumula (Major Professor: Watson Lees, Chemistry & Biochemistry) – defended her project proposal on 11/2007
	2006-2007				1		Graduate Committees: · Behmoush Memari (Major Professor: Ken Furton, Chemistry & Biochemistry) – Qualifying Exam · Aparna Malladi (Major Professor: Stan Wnuk, Chemistry & Biochemistry) · Rebecca Samul (Major Professor: Fenfei Leng, Chemistry & Biochemistry) – defended her thesis in Spring 2007
	2005-2006				1		IFRI Graduate Committee
					2		IFRI Strategic Plan and Steering Committee - Accountability and Planning
					3		Graduate Committees: · Erliang Zeng (Major Professor: Giri Narasimhan, Computer Science) · Behmoush Memari (Major Professor: Ken Furton, Chemistry) · Rebecca Samul (Major Professor: Fenfei Leng, Chemistry) · Lorraine Edwards (Major Professor: Fenfei Leng, Chemistry) – defended her thesis in Spring 2006
	2004-2005				1		IFRI Strategic Plan and Steering Committee
					2		IFRI Graduate Committee
					3		Graduate Committees: · Chengyong Yang (Major Professor: Giri Narasimhan, Computer Science) – Defended his dissertation in Apr 2005 · Tom Milledge (Major Professor: Giri Narasimhan, Computer Science) · Behmoush Memari (Major Professor: Ken Furton, Chemistry) · Lorraine Edwards (Major Professor: Fenfei Leng, Chemistry)
		2003-2004			1		IFRI Graduate Committee
					2		Member of Search Committee to hire a Forensic Scientist in Chemistry Department
					3		Participated in the IFRI Inspection and Accreditation by FEPAC (Nov 2003)
					4		Graduate Committees: · Tom Milledge (Major professor: Giri Narasimhan, Computer Science) - Thesis proposal and seminar Spring 2004 (4/26/2004) · Lorraine Edwards (Major Professor: Fenfei Leng, Chemistry) - Thesis proposal and seminar in Spring 2004 (3/19/2004)
		2002-2003			1		Member of Search Committee to hire a Biochemist in Chemistry Department
					2		IFRI Graduate Committee
					3		IFRI Certificate Program Advisor
					4		Member of Search Committee to hire a Forensic Scientist in Chemistry Department
					6		IFRI Strategic Plan and Steering Committee (Summer 2003)
					7		Graduate Committees: · Lara Coronel (Major Professor: Gary Rand, Environmental Science) · Eric Wu (Major Professor: Giri Narasimhan, Computer Science)
		2001-2002			1		Member of Search Committee to hire a Biochemist in Chemistry Department
					2		Member of College Budget Committee
					3		International Forensic Research Institute (IFRI) Graduate Committee
					4		IFRI Certificate Program Advisor
					5		Graduate Committee: · Tom Milledge (Major Professor: Giri Narasimhan, Computer Science)
		2000-2001			1		Member of Search Committee to hire a Biochemist in Chemistry Department
					2		Member of College Budget Committee
					3		International Forensic Research Institute (IFRI) Graduate Committee
					4		Prokaryotic Interest Group (PIG): www.fiu.edu/~PIG. Dr. Jay and I spearheaded the formation of The PIG group to bring together scientist interested in learning new molecular tools. We met on weekly basis and hosted four distinguished speakers
		1999-2000			1		Member of Structure/Direction of the Department of Biological Sciences’ Committee
					2		Search Committee to hire a Molecular/Cellular Biologist
	University Service
	Year				No		Committees
	2008-2009				1		Faculty Advisor, Robert J. Smiddy Memorial Endowment Fund Award Committee – Committee hosted the second dinner honoring the past awardees and raised money
					2		Faculty Advisor, Delta Phi Omega
					3		Search and Screen Committee, Department of Biomedical Engineering
					4		Access and Equity Committee
					5		One-day Symposium for Faculty across campus interested in Binanosensing.
					6		WORKSHOP: How to make effective oral and poster presentations? How to critique a paper? How to write a thesis? June, 2008
					7		Graduate Committees: · Behmoush Memari (Major Professor: Ken Furton, Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Arts and Scienes (CAS)) – defended her dissertation on 10/2008 · Erliang Zeng (Major Professor: Giri Narasimhan, Computer Science, College of Engineering (COE)) – defended his dissertation on 6/2008 · Aparna Malladi (Major Professor: Stan Wnuk, Chemistry & Biochemistry, CAS) · Harindra Vedala (Major Professor: Wonbong Choi, Material Science Engineering, COE) – defended his dissertation in Spring 2009
	2007-2008				1		Faculty Advisor, Robert J. Smiddy Memorial Endowment Fund Award Committee
					2		Faculty Advisor, Delta Phi Omega
					3		Search and Screen Committee, Department of Biomedical Engineering
					5		WORKSHOP: How to make effective oral and poster presentations? How to critique a paper? How to write a thesis? June, 2008
					6		Graduate Committees: · Erliang Zeng (Major Professor: Giri Narasimhan, Computer Science, COE) · Harindra Vedala (Major Professor: Wonbong Choi, Material Science Engineering, COE) – defended his dissertation proposal in Spring 2008
	2006-2007				1		Founding Medical Dean Search Committee
					2		Faculty Advisor, Robert J. Smiddy Memorial Endowment Fund Award Committee
					3		WORKSHOP: The importance of research to entering graduate school; Components of a research paper; and How to make effective presentations?. Presenters: Dr. Weeks, Dr. Mathee; June, 2007
					4		Faculty Advisor. Delta Phi Omega
					5		Tenure and Promotion Committee, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health.
					6		Master Teachers Search Committee, College of Medicine.
					7		Search and Screen Committee, College of Medicine
					8		Graduate Committees: · Erliang Zeng (Major Professor: Giri Narasimhan, Computer Science, COE) · Harindra Vedala (Major Professor: Wonbong Choi, Material Science Engineering, COE)– defended his dissertation proposal in Spring 2008
	2005-2006				1		University Access and Equity Committee Member
					2		Judge (Oral Presentations), FIU Graduate Forum
					3		Faculty Advisor. Delta Phi Omega. Hosted the second South Asian Night to raise money for a Child Literacy Program
					4		WORKSHOP: The importance of research to entering graduate school; Components of a research paper; and How to make effective presentations?. Presenters: Dr. Weeks, Dr. Mathee; June, 2006
					5		Faculty Advisor, Robert J. Smiddy Memorial Endowment Fund Award Committee
					6		Graduate Committee: · Nandini Duraiswamy (Major Professor: Richard Schoepester, Biomedical Engineering) – Defended her dissertation in Fall 2005
	2004-2005				1		Associate Director Presidential Lecture Series (PLS) (www.fiu.edu/pls) (till Summer 2005)
					2		University Access and Equity Committee Member
					3		Judge (Oral Presentations), FIU Graduate Forum, March 9, 2005
					4		Faculty Advisor. Delta Phi Omega. Hosted the second South Asian Night to raise money for a Child Literacy Program
					5		Judge (Oral Presentation and Research Report), Ronald E. McNair Second Annual McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program 2005 Summer Research Institute Closing Ceremony. Florida International University. July 29, 2005
					6		WORKSHOP: The Importance of Research to Entering Graduate School- Components of the Research Paper. Presenters: Dr. Weeks, Dr. Mathee June 3, 2005
	2003-2004				1		University Access and Equity Committee Member
					2		Presidential Lecture Series (PLS) Associate Director
					3		Judge (Oral and Poster Presentations), FIU Graduate Forum, April 7, 2004
					4		Faculty Advisor. Delta Phi Omega. Hosted the second South Asian Night to raise money for a Child Literacy Program
			2002-2003		1		University Access and Equity Committee Member
					2		Spring 2003 Presidential Lecture Series (PLS) Coordinator Successfully launched the PLS website (www.fiu.edu/pls)
					3		International Forensic Research Institute (IFRI) Certificate Program Advisor
					4		Faculty Advisor. Delta Phi Omega. Hosted the first South Asian Night to raise money for a Child Literacy Program
			2001-2002		1		University Access and Equity Committee Member
					2		Presidential Seminar Series Committee/Distinguished Women in Science Series · Along with Women Center, hosted Prof. Laurie Glimcher, Irene Heinz Given Professor of Immunology in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases. Recipient of the 2001 Excellence in Science Award
							· from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB).
					3		Department of Biomedical Engineering Search & Screen Committee for two Endowed chairs
					4		Curriculum committee: BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering (New program proposal)
					5		Faculty Advisor. Helped to establish the first Florida South Asian Sorority, Delta Phi Omega in FIU
					6		FIU Mentoring Partnerships Program Participant: Worked one-on-one with a student
					7		Research Opportunities in Biological Sciences: In collaboration with Honors college, I organized a one-day session with 10 speakers.
	2000- 2001				1		· Distinguished Women in Science Series
					2		The Presidential Seminar Series 2001 Committee · Along with Biology Seminar Series, I hosted Dr. Gunther Stent, Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, Member of the National Academy of Sciences and The Editor of THE DOUBLE HELIX by Jim Watson.
	Others
	Establishment of Robert J. Smiddy Excellence in Research Award
	The news of the untimely demise of my beloved undergraduate student, Robert J Smiddy, greeted us with shock and horror. The lab members and I struggled to channel our grief. We met the day after (which was Sunday September 19, 2004) in school and vowed to complete his thesis, arrange for him to obtain his Bachelors degree posthumously, and most of all establish a research award that would honor his memory, as Robert personified a paragon of an Honors Biology student. A committee was formed with Robert Sautter (known in the lab as Robert the Senior and Robert Smiddy was known as “Junior”) as the chair. The committee (i) hosted two fund-raising events, (ii) contacted the Miami Herald and MDCC Catalyst to get the word out, and (ii) succeeded in raising $10,000 to initiate the account. The Robert James Smiddy Memorial Endowment Fund was created to memorialize Junior’s life and acknowledge his academic excellence and scientific/research achievements. The award is conferred once a year to an undergraduate student conducting research in conjunction with the Biology Honors Program and who complies with all the requirements established by the RJS Memorial Award Committee. Candidates are judged not only for the quality of their research and thesis, but also upon his/her ability to communicate. To ensure that this award is given in perpetuity, we continued raising the money and reached the target goal of $25,000 by November 2004. To my knowledge, it is a one of a kind award that was established by students for a student, and the only undergraduate research award in the College of Arts and Sciences. Since the establishment of the award, four students have been recipients of this honor that includes a monetary stipend. The committee has also hosted dinners to honor the recipients and share their research with the public. At the dinner this year, the committee has proposed to create a second award for Medical Students as Junior had planned to enter a MD-PhD dual program in 2005 and the ones who knew him had no doubt he would have obtained his immediate goal. I have attached a note from Junior’s father.
	Voluntary Teaching in Liberia
	Volunteer Faculty teaching at the A.M. Dogglioti Medical School, Liberia · Taught two courses: Bacteriology and Molecular Biology · Solicited text books for them from various publishers · Raised and Donated money When Dr. Ophelia Weeks, asked me if I would help her to teach the medical students in war-ravaged Liberia, I quickly said yes. At that point I did not realize what I was getting myself into or was I prepared for what would greet me when I landed. In short, everything that could be broken was broken. Everything that we took for granted, such as water, electricity, papers, textbooks, a photocopier (to name a few) seemed so scarce. Though the students seemed bent by the relentless war, there was this hunger for knowledge and unbreakable desire to become a physician and to serve the community. These students were amazing. They just needed someone to recognize, to reach out and to give. I was touched by these 16 resilient souls and was very glad to share part of my journey with them.